Senior Research Associate, Translational Immunology

Job Description

General Summary:
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is seeking an experienced and technically accomplished Principal Research Associate to join our growing Translational Immunology team in Seattle. This is a hands-on laboratory role focused on the design, execution, and optimization of immunological experiments that support target identification, validation, and translational research across Vertex’s autoimmune and inflammatory disease portfolio.

The successful candidate will be a highly skilled bench scientist with demonstrated expertise in human immune cell biology and complex immunological assay systems. Working closely with Research Scientists and cross-functional colleagues, this individual will bring technical independence, scientific rigor, and creative problem-solving to generate high-quality data that drives research decisions. The ideal candidate will thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and be motivated by the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the development of transformative medicines for patients with serious diseases.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Independently design, execute, and troubleshoot complex cell-based and immunological assays using primary human immune cells, patient-derived samples, and established cell lines
• Isolate, culture, stimulate, and functionally characterize human immune cell populations from peripheral blood and tissue-derived sources
• Perform and optimize multi-parameter flow cytometry experiments, including panel design, compensation, acquisition, and data analysis
• Execute and develop quantitative immunoassays including ELISA, MSD, Luminex, and ELISpot to support translational research objectives
• Contribute to experimental design and scientific planning in collaboration with Research Scientists and project leads
• Analyze and interpret experimental data using FlowJo, GraphPad Prism, and other analytical tools; prepare figures, data summaries, and presentations for team discussions
• Develop, optimize, and document standard operating procedures for new and existing assay platforms
• Process, track, and manage biological samples with rigorous attention to quality, chain-of-custody, and inventory standards
• Maintain thorough and accurate records in electronic laboratory notebooks in compliance with company standards
• Support laboratory operations including equipment maintenance, reagent inventory, vendor interactions, and supply management
• Stay current with emerging technologies and methodologies in immunology research and contribute to their evaluation and adoption
• Perform other duties as assigned

Knowledge and Skills:

• Deep hands-on expertise in human immune cell biology, including isolation, culture, and functional characterization of lymphocyte and myeloid cell populations from blood and tissue
• Strong proficiency in multi-parameter flow cytometry (8+ colors), including panel design, optimization, compensation, and analysis using FlowJo or equivalent software
• Solid experience with quantitative immunoassay platforms such as ELISA, MSD, Luminex, and/or ELISpot
• Demonstrated ability to independently troubleshoot experiments, optimize protocols, and adapt methods to new applications
• Experience with data analysis and visualization using GraphPad Prism and Microsoft Office; familiarity with R or Python for data analysis is a plus
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple experiments, sample sets, and timelines simultaneously
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to data quality, reproducibility, and thorough scientific documentation
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present data clearly to scientific teams
• Collaborative mindset with a track record of working productively within cross-functional research teams
• Familiarity with electronic laboratory notebook systems and laboratory information management practices
• Exposure to or interest in emerging technologies such as single-cell methods, high-dimensional cytometry, spatial biology, or multiplexed tissue imaging is a plus

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in Immunology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or a related discipline and 0–2 years of relevant employment experience, or
• Bachelor’s degree in Immunology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or a related discipline and 4+ years of relevant employment experience
• Minimum of 2 years of experience working in research, preferably in a pharma or biotech setting
   

Pay Range:

$79,800 - $119,800

Disclosure Statement:

The range provided is based on what we believe is a reasonable estimat